Douche-mat.



Patented July ll, I899.

/N VENTOf? M. M. HAWLEY.

noucm-z MAT.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1899.)

(Nd Model.)

WITNESSES THE NORRIS warms co. Mom-urns" WASHINGTON, by c 7 UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARY M. IIAWLEY, OF HUNTINGTON, INDIANA.

DOUCHE-MAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,582, dated July 11, 1899.

7 Application filed February 17, 1899. Serial'No. 705,848. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern. 7

Be it known that I, MARY M. HAWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Iunt ington, in the county of Huntington and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Douche-Mats, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of this invention are to afford thorough and adequate protection against soiling and wetting the bed-linen in giving douches or enemas and to provide ready and eifective means for conveying away the water or other detergent used to a suitable receptacle.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction of a douchemat, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing my improved mat in position on a bed. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section, showing the manner of constructing the mat.

Referring to the drawings, Adesignates the mat, the same to be constructed of any suitable waterproof material, preferably of rubber. The mat comprises, essentially, a body portion A constituting in effect a funnel, and a flap A constituting a cover or guard.

The upper part of the body portion is of such size as to be provided with a surface sufficient to accommodate thebody of the user and at its lower portion is tapered and constitutes the rear wall of the funnel. If preferred, the flap and rear Wall of the funnel may be of two pieces of rubber vulcanized together; but from a standpoint of simplicity of construction and durability in use it is advantageous to construct these partsof a single piece of material. The front wall of the funnel may be secured to the rear wall in any I suitable manner, as by being vulcanized or sewed thereto, and in order to reinforce the exposed edges these may be inclosed by strips of any suitable material, forminga bead surrounding the entire structure and the discharge-mouth of the funnel. In use itis necessary that the mouth A of the funnel should remain open, so that the detergent will be caught and conveyed to a suitable vessel. To this end the edge of the mouth is beaded or reinforced, as shown at A so as to cause italways when in use to project beyond the flap A In use the mat is placed on the bed with the funnel depending over the side and in position to discharge into a suitable vessel.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the device will be conducive to great cleanliness in use and will obviate all danger of soiling either the bedding or floor-covering adjacent to the bed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improved article, a douche-mat made from a single piece of flexible waterproof material, comprising the rectangular flap having a hole near the upper end and the lower end contracted forming a funnel, the upper or enlarged end of which has its edgeformed of nesses.

V MARY M. HAWLEY. Witnesses: I

JOHN G. PRICE,

H. E. ROSEBROUGEL- 

